The Syracuse Orange and Washington State Cougars have met once before, with the former coming away with a 52-25 victory in 1979. Will their 2024 bowl matchup generate a similar result?
Our Syracuse vs. Washington State prediction breaks down everything you need to know — from the latest betting odds to what’s at stake for both teams as they battle in the DirecTV Holiday Bowl.
Syracuse vs. Washington State Holiday Bowl Betting Preview
All Syracuse vs. Washington State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Syracuse -11.5 - Spread
Syracuse -12 - Moneyline
Syracuse -440, Washington State +340 - Over/Under
59.5 points - Game Time
8:00 p.m. ET, Friday, Dec. 27 - Location
Snapdragon Stadium | San Diego, Calif. - Predicted Weather at Kick
TBD - How To Watch
Fox
Syracuse has struggled as a favorite in recent outings, going 1-5 against the spread in its last six, with the under hitting in seven of the last 10.
MORE: CFN Betting Parlay Calculator
It’s not like Washington State has been much better. It’s 2-5 straight up in its last seven games as an underdog and 0-5 ATS in its past five contests played in December.
Syracuse’s Winning Probability
The Orange have only won double-digit games twice since 2000. They can make it three times in the Holiday Bowl. Fran Brown led Syracuse to a 9-3 regular-season record in his debut campaign and will look to add an exclamation point with a win over Washington State.
- at Washington State: 80.2%
Washington State’s Winning Probability
The Cougars went 8-4 in 2024, their best record in six years. However, they are now searching for their fourth head coach since 2019, as Jake Dickert left for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons job. Due to the turnover, the FPM gives Washington State a less than 20% chance to upset Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl.
- vs. Syracuse: 19.8%
Prediction for Syracuse vs. Washington State
Syracuse comes into the Holiday Bowl with momentum after taking down the Miami Hurricanes. QB Kyle McCord hasn’t thrown an interception in four games and completed 75.4% of passes for 850 yards over the last two outings.
Perhaps more importantly, the Orange haven’t lost any major playmakers to the transfer portal and are playing with cohesion heading into the matchup.
MORE: 2024 College Football Bowl Game Opt-Out Tracker
Washington State, on the other hand, is reeling. The Cougars have been hit hard by the portal and have seen their head coach, offensive coordinator, and QBs coach depart the program. As a result, starting QB John Mateer, who led college football with 44 total TDs, jumped ship less than 10 days before kickoff.
While the underdog has thrived in the Holiday Bowl (9-1 ATS in the last 10), Washington State’s roster depletion and Syracuse’s stability make backing the Orange the easy call.
Prediction: Syracuse 38, Washington State 20
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